Housing assembly for miniature radio apparatus with self contained battery

ABSTRACT

Housing assembly for miniature radio apparatus, such as a radio pager, having a molded frame member which houses the chassis and forms one end and two opposite outer sides of the housing. Space for a battery is provided adjacent the end of the housing formed by the frame member. A flexible plastic insulating member has a central part secured to the end of the frame member with flaps covering the chassis and the battery. A U-shaped cover member slides in grooves in the frame member to form the other end and the other two outer sides of the housing, thereby providing a completely enclosed housing. The cover bears against the flaps to hold the chassis and battery in the proper positions within the housing. The cover can slide with respect to the frame member to open the housing at one end to afford access to the battery. A spring biased detent is secured to the frame member, which cooperates with an opening in the cover member to hold the cover completely closed. This detent can be overriden to permit the cover to slide part way open for access to the battery. The detent engages a tongue at a further opening in the cover to prevent further movement of the cover with respect to the housing, preventing access to the radio chassis. A key may be provided to release the detent from the tongue for removal of the cover from the frame member.

United States Patent Hutchinson et a1.

[is] 3,693,089 51 Sept. 19, 1972 154] HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR MINIATURERADIO APPARATUS WITH SELF CONTAINED BATTERY [72] Inventors: Thomas R.Hutchinson, Sunrise Golf Village; Marco Hans Lombard, Miami, both ofFla.

[73] Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Franklin Park, Ill.

[22] Filed: May 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 145,165

[52] US. Cl. ..325/ll9, 325/353, 325/355,

317/101 CB, 312/7 R, 174/52 R [51] Int. Cl. "H0411 l/08 [58] Field ofSearch ..325/119, 352, 353, 355, 361, 325/364; 317/101 CB, 101 DI-I;312/7 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,487,601 11/1949 Schnoor eta1 ..325/353 1,987,478 l/l935 Hendrickson et a1 ..312/7 2,924,705 2/1960Jones ..325/361 3,550,008 12/1970 Bright ..325/364 PrimaryExaminer-Robert L. Richardson Assistant Examiner-Peter M. PecoriAttorney-Mueller & Aichele [57] ABSTRACT Housing assembly for miniatureradio apparatus, such as a radio pager, having a molded frame memberwhich houses the chassis and forms one end and two opposite outer sidesof the housing. Space for a battery is provided adjacent the end of thehousing formed by the frame member. A flexible plastic insulating memberhas a central part secured to the end of the frame member with flapscovering the chassis and the battery. A U-shaped cover member slides ingrooves in the frame member to form the other end and the other twoouter sides of the housing, thereby providing a completely enclosedhousing. The cover bears against the flaps to hold the chassis andbattery in the proper positions within the housing. The cover can slidewith respect to the frame member to open the housing at one end toafford access to the battery. A spring biased detent is secured to theframe member, which cooperates with an opening in the cover member tohold the cover completely closed. This detent can be overriden to permitthe cover to slide part way open for access to the battery. The detentengages a tongue at a further opening in the cover to prevent furthermovement of the cover with respect to the housing, preventing access tothe radio chassis. A key may be provided to release the detent from thetongue for removal of the cover from the frame member.

12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR MINIATURE RADIOAPPARATUS WITH SELF CONTAINED BATTERY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Insmall radio apparatus, such as a radio receiver or pager, and whichcontains a battery for powering the apparatus, it is necessary to affordaccess to the battery for replacement of the same. It is known toprovide a plastic housing, with a removable section secured thereto, asby screws engaging inserts provided in the molded housing. This has theobjection that the inserts molded in the plastic housing to receive thescrews involve substantial cost, and this construction also results in ahigh percentage of rejects, further increasing the cost. To prevent lossof the screws, captive machine screws may be used, which are relativelyexpensive. Further, the screws have an objectionable appearance, and mayproject slightly to catch on the pocket when the radio is inserted orremoved to damage the same.

To provide access to the battery in such a housing requires the use of ascrewdriver or coin, when it is desired to change the battery. Otherremovable sections for access to the battery have been used such as asmall button with threads or other interlocking projections, but a smallcover has the objections that it is easily lost or misplaced. In somecases, plastic members with engaging projections have been used to coverthe battery compartment, but these do not provide a secure fasteningafter being removed a number of times. Hinged doors have also been used,but the hinge structure is relatively expensive, and these structureshave not been entirely satisfactory.

In addition to providing access to the battery, it is also necessarythat access to the chassis be provided. However, the chassis should notbe exposed when it is only desired to exchange the battery, and it ispreferable that access to the chassis by the user of the equipment bemade difficult to prevent undesired tampering with the chassis and thecomponents thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide ahousing assembly for miniature battery operated radio apparatus whereinthe housing can be opened without the use of tools to provide access tothe battery, without exposing the radio chassis.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved housingarrangement for a miniature radio apparatus wherein the housing can beopened to give access to the battery without the use of a tool, and canbe opened to provide access to the chassis only by use of a special keyor tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a housing structure for aminiature radio device having a frame member and a cover member whichcooperate to form a completely enclosed housing, and wherein the covermember is slidable with respect to the frame member and is held inclosed position by engagement of a detent with a first part of the covermember and in a position providing access to the battery by engagementof the detent with a second part of the cover member.

The miniature battery operated radio apparatus of the invention includesa frame member having provisions for receiving a radio chassis and abattery for powering the chassis. The frame member can be molded ofplastic material and has portions forming one end and two opposite outersides of a housing for apparatus. A U-shaped cover member is slidablypositioned in grooves in the frame member and forms the other twoopposite outer sides of the housing, which are at right angles to thetwo sides formed by the frame member, and the second end of the housing.The cover member includes a clip for holding the radio apparatus whichmay be a radio pager, in the pocket or n the belt of the person usingthe same. Interposed between the frame member and the cover is aresilient insulating member having a mounting portion secured to the oneend of the frame members and first and second flaps extending therefrom.The first flap covers the chassis and holds the same in position on theframe member, and the second flap provides a cover over the battery. Aspring structure secured to the frame member has a projecting portionwhich forms a detent and engages an aperture in the cover to hold thecover completely closed. The detent can be overcome so that the covercan be slid on the frame member to a position such that the second flapcan be flexed outwardly to expose the battery to permit installing orremoval of the same. The cover has a cutout portion with a tongue whichin this position of the cover engages the projecting portion of thedetent to prevent the cover from being further removed. In thisposition, the cover holds the first flap over the radio chassis so thatit protects the same. The detent can be released from the tongue topermit further removal of the cover only by the use of a special tool,to thereby protect the radio chassis and components from exposure andobjectionable tampering by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of aradio pager in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the pager of FIG. 1 showing the housingparts and the chassis;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the back side of the molded frame member of thehousing;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pager with the housing closedshowing the frame member along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view with the cover partially open to exposethe battery;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing the detent structure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the key which is used to release the detent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The radio apparatus of the invention is illustratedin the drawings as a radio pager. FIG. 1 shows the housing containingthe radio apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows the parts in exploded relation.The housing includes a molded member 10 which forms a frame forsupporting the chassis 20, and which also forms one end 11 and a pair ofopposite outer sides 12 and 13 of a housing for the radio apparatus. Theframe member 10 also includes a web or wall 14 extending between thesides 12 and 13, and an end 15, which do not form exposed sides of thehousing.

The chassis includes an insulating circuit board 21 having conductorstherein which is positioned in the frame member 10, opposite the web 14.Components extend from the bottom side of the circuit board 21 with thecomponents indicated at 23 in FIGS. 4 and 5. A bracket 22 is provided onthis side of the circuit board 21 for receiving a battery 24, and formaking connections to the circuit on the chassis 20.

A cover member 16 is provided which is U-shaped and may be formed fromflat metal stock. The cover includes end 17 and sides 18 and 19, whichform the second end and a pair of opposite outer sides of the housing.Grooves 29 are molded in the side walls 12 and 13 of the frame forreceiving the sides 18 and 19 provided by the cover. Side 19 of thecover 15 slides along the web 14 of the housing. The end wall 17 of thecover is adjacent wall 15 of the housing and has an opening forreceiving the actuator 26 of a switch secured to the chassis 20. Thechassis may also include a sound transducing device and openings 27 areprovided in the wall 17 through which sound can pass to be heard by theuser of the device. A retaining clip 28 is provided on the cover 16 sothat the pager or other radio receiver can be held in a pocket or on thebelt of the user.

As insulating flexible plastic member 30 is provided having a mountingportion 31 secured to the inside of the end wall 11 of the frame member10, and flaps 32 and 33 extending therefrom. The mounting portion 31 canbe secured to the end wall 11 by rivets 34, which can also be used toprovide external connections to the radio, as for charging the battery.The flap 32 is constructed to be folded down into engagement with thecircuit board 20, and has ribs 35 at the edges and in the center whichbear against the chassis to hold the same in position within the framemember 10. The flap 33 on the member 30 covers an opening 36 in the web14, through which the battery is inserted to place the same in thebracket 21 and engages the battery to hold the same in place.

The parts shown in exploded positions in FIG. 2 are held assembled bydropping the chassis 20 into the frame 10 and folding the insulatingflap 32 on top of the chassis to provide an insulating cover over thecircuit conductors thereon. Then the cover 16 is slipped onto the framemember 10, with the sides 18 and 19 within grooves 29 in the side walls12 and 13 of the frame member. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showingthe assembled structure. As previously stated, the member 30 is made offlexible insulating material and the flap 32 thereof has ribs 35 whichbear against the chassis to hold the same within the frame 10. The side18 of the cover 16 provides pressure against the flap 32 which exertsresilient pressure on the chassis. Pads 38 of resilient material aresecured to the sides 12 and 13 of the frame member 10 to resilientlyhold the chassis in position laterally. The flap 33 also has ribs 33awhich bear against the battery 24, with the flap 33 being held inposition by the side 19 of the cover 16. The chassis is resiliently heldin the housing by the flaps 32 and 33, the resilient pads 38 and otherresilient members which engage the frame member 10 and/or cover 16.

The cover 16 is held in closed position on the frame 10 by a detentarrangement which is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. FIG. 3 shows the backside of the web 14 of the frame member 10. This includes a plasticmember 40 having a projection 41 at its end. A spring 42 bears upwardlyagainst the member 40 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The projection 41 is positionedto extend into an opening 42 in the side 19 of the cover 16, which ispositioned under the top of the retaining clip 28 (FIG. 4), when thecover is closed. The projection 41 tends to hold the cover 16 in closedposition with respect to the frame member 10. As shown in FIG. 4, theprojection 41 has rounded edges so that wen pressure is applied, thespring 43 will flex so that the projection 41 moves down and the cover16 can slide with respect to the frame member 10.

In FIG. 5, the cover is shown slid to a position in which the end 19a ofthe side 19 clears the end of the flap 33, so that the flap can beflexed upwardly as shown. This provides access to the battery 24 throughthe opening 36 in the web 14. An opening 37 is provided in the flap 32,and this is clear of the side 18 of the cover, so that an elongatedobject can be used to press against the battery 24 to force the samethrough the opening 36. The user of the radio can, therefore, change thebattery with the cover in the position shown in FIG. 5. The flap 33 hasan end 33b which engages the edge 36a of the opening 36 in web 14 tohold the battery in position when the cover 16 is slid to the positionshown in FIG. 5. The flap is shown in this position in FIG. 4. The covercan then be slid closed so that the projection 41 enters the opening 42in the cover 16 to hold the cover closed. This opening of the cover 16to provide access to the battery 24 does not expose the chassis 20, asthe movement of the side 18 of the cover to the position shown in FIG. 5merely exposes a portion of the insulating flap 32 which is between thechassis 20 and the cover side 18. This flap is held by the cover side 18when in this position, so that it covers the chassis.

The cover 16 is held against further removal, when in the position shownin FIG. 5, by engagement between the projection 41 on member 40 and atongue 44 formed in the side 19 of cover 16. The tongue 44 is formed bya punched opening 45 in the side 19 of cover 16 (FIGS. 2 and 7), andfits into a recess 46 in the projection 41 (FIGS. 3 and 7). Thisinterengagement, which is shown in FIG. 7, prevents the complete removalof the cover 16 from base 10.

In order to release the interengagement between tongue 44 and projection41, a tool or key 48 is provided, which is shown in FIG. 8. This is aplastic bar having a head 50 thereon, with a pair of transverse ribs 52projecting therefrom. The key can be placed under the clip 28 (FIG. 5),with the ribs 52 engaging the projection 41 on the opposite sides of therecess 46. In FIG. 6, the ribs 52 on the key 48 are shown by dottedlines. Pressure on the clip 28 will then cause the ribs 52 on the key tomove the projection 41 downward. This flexes the spring 43, so thatprojection 41 will move below the cover 16 and the interengagementbetween the projection 41 and the tongue 46 is released. The cover 16can then be completely removed from the frame member 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the web 14 of the frame 10 has a further opening 39therein. This permits inspection of components 23 on the chassis 20without removing the chassis from the frame. For example, the receivermay have selective devices for responding to particular paging codes.The devices can be placed so that indications thereon are visiblethrough the opening 39 to make it possible to determine the code towhich the receiver will respond.

The housing assembly described provides a complete housing formed by aframe member and a cover member. The members are held in assembledrelation by the engagement of the detent on the frame with openings inthe cover, and no screws or other removable connecting elements arerequired. This makes it possible to open the housing as required tochange the battery without the use of a screwdriver or other tool.However, a tool is required to completely open the housing to provideaccess to the chassis. The assembled housing has a neat appearance withno screw beads or other fastening devices to disturb the styling lines.As the chassis has no external connections, it can be removed whenrequired without disconnecting leads.

We claim:

1. Miniature battery operated radio apparatus including in combination,a frame member having portions forming one end and two opposite sides ofa housing, a radio chassis positioned within said frame member, saidframe member having a portion with an opening adapted to receive abattery adjacent said one end of the housing, a U-shaped cover memberforming the opposite end and two opposite sides of the housing, saidframe member being adapted to receive said cover member in slidingrelation thereon, with said cover member having a first position withrespect to said frame member to form a completely enclosed housing,detent means cooperating with said cover member to hold said covermember in said first position, said cover member being slidable to asecond position with respect to said frame member to open said housingadjacent said one end thereof to provide access to a battery therein,said cover member having a portion cooperating with said detent means tohold said cover member in said second position and prevent completeremoval of said cover member.

2. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said detent meansincludes a spring biased member secured to said frame member and havinga projecting portion, and said cover member has an opening to receivesaid projecting portion when said cover member is in said firstposition.

3. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said spring biasedmember is a plastic member flexibly secured to said frame member, andincluding a leaf spring engaging said plastic member to hold saidprojecting portion in position to engage said cover member.

4. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cover memberhas a cut out portion forming a tongue which engages said projectingportion of from said second position to permit removal thereof from saidframe member.

5. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said projectingportion has a recess shaped to receive said tongue to provideinterengagement therebetween.

6. Radio apparatus m accordance with claim 1 including a resilientinsulating member having a mounting portion with first and second flapsextending on opposite sides thereof, means securing said mountingportion to said one end of said frame member, said first flap extendingover said chassis and said second flap extending over said batteryopening in said frame member, said chassis being held in position withinsaid frame member by said first flap extending thereover and engagementthereof by said cover member.

7. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first flaphas ribs thereon for engaging said chassis to resiliently hold saidchassis within said frame member.

8. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 7 including resilient meanson said frame structure engaged by said chassis when positioned on saidframe structure.

9. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said second flapextending over said battery opening has a free end which moves past saidcover member in said second position, and flexes to permit movement of abattery through said opening.

10. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said first flapis held against said chassis by said cover member when in said first andsecond positions, and said first flap has an opening therein affordingaccess to the battery when said cover member is in said second position.

ll. Minature battery operated radio apparatus including in combination,a frame member having portions forming one end and two opposite sides ofa housing, a radio chassis positioned within said frame member andincluding battery receiving means adjacent said one end of said framemember, a U-shaped cover member forming the opposite end and twoopposite sides of the housing, said frame member being adapted toreceive said cover member in sliding relation thereon, with said covermember having a first position with respect to said frame member to forma completely enclosed housing, a resilient insulating member having amounting portion secured to said one end of said frame member and atleast one flap extending from said mounting portion and positioned oversaid chassis, said cover member in said first position engaging saidflap and cooperating therewith to hold said chassis in position withinsaid frame member, said cover member being slidable with respect to saidframe member to remove the same therefrom, whereby said flap is movableto a position to permit removal of said chassis from said frame member.

12. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said resilientinsulating member has a movable portion adjacent said one end of sameframe member and positioned over said battery receiving means, saidcover member in said first position engaging said movable portion andcooperating therewith to hold said battery in position, said covermember being slidable on said frame member to a second position to openthe housing at said one end thereof and release said movable portion topermit movement thereof for removal of a battery from said batteryreceiving means.

1. Miniature battery operated radio apparatus including in combination,a frame member having portions forming one end and two opposite sides ofa housing, a radio chassis positioned within said frame member, saidframe member having a portion with an opening adapted to receive abattery adjacent said one end of the housing, a U-shaped cover memberforming the opposite end and two opposite sides of the housing, saidframe member being adapted to receive said cover member in slidingrelation thereon, with said cover member having a first position withrespect to said frame member to form a completely enclosed housing,detent means cooperating with said cover member to hold said covermember in said first position, said cover member being slidable to asecond position with respect to said frame member to open said housingadjacent said one end thereof to provide access to a battery therein,said cover member having a portion cooperating with said detent means tohold said cover member in said second position and prevent completeremoval of said cover member.
 2. Radio apparatus in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said detent means includes a spring biased membersecured to said frame member and having a projecting portion, and saidcover member has an opening to receive said projecting portion when saidcover member is in said first position.
 3. Radio apparatus in accordancewith claim 2 wherein said spring biased member is a plastic memberflexibly secured to said frame member, and including a leaf springengaging said plastic member to hold said projecting portion in positionto engage said cover member.
 4. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim2 wherein said cover member has a cut out portion forming a tongue whichengages said projecting portion of said detent means when said covermember is in said second position, whereby said spring biased membermust be moved so that said projecting portion clears said tongue topermit movement of said cover member from said second position to permitremoval thereof from said frame member.
 5. Radio apparatus in accordancewith claim 4 wherein said projecting portion has a recess shaped toreceive said tongue to provide interengagement therebetween.
 6. Radioapparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a resilient insulatingmember having a mounting portion with first and second flaps extendingon opposite sides thereof, means securing said mounting portion to saidone end of said frame member, said first flap extending over saidchassis and said second flap extending over said battery opening in saidframe member, said chassis being held in position within said framemember by said first flap extending thereover and engagement thereof bysaid cover member.
 7. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 6 whereinsaid first flap has ribs thereon for engaging said chassis toresiliently hold said chassis within said frame member.
 8. Radioapparatus in accordance with claim 7 including resilient means on saidframe structure engaged by said chassis when positioned on said framestructure.
 9. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein saidsecond flap extending over said battery opening has a free end whichmoves past said cover member in said second position, and flexes topermit movement of a battery through said opening.
 10. Radio apparatusin accordance with claim 9 wherein said first flap is held against saidchassis by said cover member when in said first and second positions,and said first flap has an opening therein affording access to thebattery when said cover member is in said second position.
 11. Minaturebattery operated radio apparatus including in combination, a framemember having portions forming one end and two opposite sides of ahousing, a radio chassis positioned within said frame member andincluding battery receiving means adjacent said one end of said framemeMber, a U-shaped cover member forming the opposite end and twoopposite sides of the housing, said frame member being adapted toreceive said cover member in sliding relation thereon, with said covermember having a first position with respect to said frame member to forma completely enclosed housing, a resilient insulating member having amounting portion secured to said one end of said frame member and atleast one flap extending from said mounting portion and positioned oversaid chassis, said cover member in said first position engaging saidflap and cooperating therewith to hold said chassis in position withinsaid frame member, said cover member being slidable with respect to saidframe member to remove the same therefrom, whereby said flap is movableto a position to permit removal of said chassis from said frame member.12. Radio apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said resilientinsulating member has a movable portion adjacent said one end of sameframe member and positioned over said battery receiving means, saidcover member in said first position engaging said movable portion andcooperating therewith to hold said battery in position, said covermember being slidable on said frame member to a second position to openthe housing at said one end thereof and release said movable portion topermit movement thereof for removal of a battery from said batteryreceiving means.